Meme evolution

[NonEntity]

I think that the next productive evolution in memes needs to be one away from the idea of "rights." This concept of rights is so egocentric that it is destructive of the nature of our social relations. We are social animals. We depend upon others for our mutual survival, enjoyment and thriving. The very nature of the idea that one has rights, even "negative" ones, is a pattern of exclusion, of separation. While it has very valuable benefits within the context in which it developed, we will need to move beyond it if we seek to advance past our current social problems. I'm not saying that I have the answer here, be clear on that. It's just that I have come to the conclusion that the current path we are on is self limiting. I've spoken many times before of the Somali concept of conflict resolution versus the claiming of "rights." I think there is much to be gained in recognizing the mutual support nature of our humanity. We are not lizards. If we continue to live as lizards we will continue to live as lizards, as it were. (I wonder if that is the meaning behind David Icke's "lizard people" stuff. If it is, then I understand him clearly. If not, then I think he's maybe as much a nutjob as many think he is.)

At any rate, I just had the need to put that down "on paper" as a statement of intent, or a first step in the journey of a thousand miles or some such thing.

- NonE

[NonEntity]

Here is a very interesting inquiry into the nature of property (one of those "rights" we talk about). It's a PDF. Recommended.

- NonE

(Tharrin? You out there? You'll find this article worth your time.)

[malinson]

NonEntity Wrote:This concept of rights is so egocentric that it is destructive of the nature of our social relations.

That single line exposes the very problem.

By nature, human beings are egocentric. You see, the concepts presented in anarchism's delusional thinking of a leaderless society rises from that very fact; that it is not within our nature. Never has been, for the whole of our human world has always experienced - social conflict.

Social conflict is a fact of life; more specifically, it's not within our nature to behave symbiotically with everyone else.

For those unfamiliar with the word symbiotic, it simply means that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. When I say many I don't mean just your group of friends or you family. Your interests cannot act in detriment to anyone else lest it crumbles the whole of humanity due to symbiotic decay. Just think of a plant; if each of its cells represented every human being on this world, it wouldn’t last an hour.

Even if you eliminated all but one religion, all but one language, all but one race, all but one culture, we would still experience social conflicts, egocentric interests and greed rise like a deadly cancer across the entire planet. We are the cancer, and the quicker we understand this, the more support we would give to a system that helps control, manage and guide it.

-Malinson